John F. Marok

A full-time painter, exhibiting regularly and working constantly since 1980 during which time I've explored several subjects: Figure, Still-life City/Village/Landscapes, Animals and others. My connection to these subjects is personal; all of my paintings are reflections of my life, things I have seen or imagined. My work is another form of a diary ... it is the evidence of my life.

I'm a visual expeditionary and "Discovery Through Exploration" is my mantra. When I begin a painting I am more excited by the unknown rather than the known. The poet John Keats (1795-1821) described this condition as "negative capability" - "of being in a state of uncertainty, mystery and doubt without any irritable reaching for facts and reason" - I love that.

I work with the belief that what is most personal is also most universal. My perception is that my vulnerability, my deepest innermost thoughts and feelings of the world can be common and shared.

When a painting is completed, I feel as though I've met a stranger that I somehow know--that curiously wonderful feeling of deja-vu.